House Speaker Concerned Time Running out for Special Session

The question of whether a special session of the General Assembly will be called to restore parts of the MAWD program remains up in the air and House Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill is concerned that time might be slipping away. Members of the House have been asking Governor Matt Blunt to call a special session to allow them to restore parts of the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program. The Governor has said he would do that if it’s coupled with a companion Medicaid provider fraud bill – something he and Senators want. Jetton says the House is ready for a special session, but he’s not sure about the Senate. And, he says time is running out if a special session is to be held in conjunction with the regularly-scheduled veto session in September. Jetton says a special committee of the House has come up with a compromise on the Medicaid fraud legislation he thinks would be acceptable to both chambers, but he hasn’t heard from the Senate.